Love Beyond the Mask

Chapter 242

Ludwik was on the edge, teetering close to a breakdown, clinging to his newborn as his lifeline to

sanity.

Despite the fact that the little tyke had been in the incubator for what seemed like an eternity, facing

life–threatening complications every other day, Ludwik had exhausted every medical avenue and

refused to give up. He was there day in and day out as if possessed while completely ignoring Skyfaith

Electronic Tech.

In such a state, Elaine felt as though she had become invisible, unable to even get close.

And the idea of finding a chance to eliminate the bane of her existence was laughably far–fetched.

Finally, after six months, the baby was out of the incubator. Ludwik, with his ragged beard and a touch

of despair that made him all the more alluring, cracked a rare smile.

But Elaine was still kept at arm’s length from the child.

Ludwik took the baby to Natalie’s house, where he devoted his nights to solo parenting–nursing,

changing diapers, never once asking for help.

Elaine, seeing no other way, gritted her teeth and shifted strategies. The baby was young, just a few

months old. If she raised him as her own, surely he would call her ‘mom‘ someday. To avenge

Whitney’s death and then have her child call her ‘mom‘ felt like a twisted form of victory.

And it would certainly secure Ludwik’s heart.

By adopting this approach, Elaine did indeed manage to earn a smidgen of trust and favor from the

man. She finally felt she could tentatively reach for his heart, which had been sealed away for half a

year.

One night, after the weak child had finished his milk and fallen asleep, Elaine sought out Ludwik, who

had retreated to his study to bury himself in work. She was determined to have a serious

talk about their future.

Ludwik was detached from everything, but the gentle Elaine approached, bashfully snuggling into his

embrace, and whispered, “Ludwik, I can wait for you indefinitely, for a spot in your heart, but I worry. If

you continue to shut yourself away, you’re only tormenting yourself.

I can’t bear to see you hurt like this. Please, for Danny’s sake, come out of this. He needs a normal dad

and a mom, a complete family. It’s time to let her go. She’s not worth your remembrance, not even your

hatred. No mother could be that cruel…”

“You worry too much,” Ludwik closed his file, his profile sharp and expression darkening.

Elaine’s breath hitched, and in a bold move, she kissed his jawline, pleading with infatuated

desperation, “If you still harbor hatred and seek revenge, wouldn’t the best way be to fall for another

woman, to build a life and find happiness with her? Wouldn’t that be the cruelest

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comeback?”

As if realization suddenly dawned on him, Ludwik’s enigmatic gaze landed on Elaine, who was

undeniably beautiful. A flash of deep coldness crossed his features.

Elaine’s lips trailed down along his skin to his throat as she whispered fervently. “I’m worth it. Ludwik. I

deserve your attention.”

“You’re right.” Ludwik murmured, closing his eyes, a mix of exhaustion and simmering resentment in

his tone. He traced her lips, kissing her with a controlled intensity. “Not loving a good woman like you is

a sickness, one I must cure. The best revenge is to fall for you. Let’s be a happy family of three. Take

good care of Danny, Elaine. You’re his mother now.”

His gaze was hooded as he kissed her, movements stiff yet unrelenting. Elaine, flushed with success,

knew the weight of his words. With her head held high, flushed with triumph, she thought Whitney must

be turning in her grave.

Defeated, two lives lost!

Three years later, abroad.

Dawn was just breaking as a medical examination room in a medical academy buzzed with activity.

The male doctor tapped the woman’s knees, saying, “Ms. Valentine, after three years, your chronic

condition has finally improved, but remember, the after–effects are lifelong. You must avoid standing in

the cold and soaking your legs in ice water, or you’ll suffer unbearable pain.”

The woman, who had been deprived of sunlight for years, had a snow–white, breathtakingly beautiful

face, her skin porcelain smooth. She stood up, jumping lightly, her voice husky from permanent

damage yet sultry. “I understand. And don’t forget, I’m your senior at this medical academy. It’s just that

doctors can’t operate on themselves, so I needed you to help with the acupuncture.”

“You’re stubborn. What’s the rush that you’re interrupting your treatment? You’re a miracle worker in

our hospital. I heard you’re transferring your medical license back to Harmonia Country?”

“I’ve got a patient back home,” she replied evasively, picking up her boxing gloves and heading for the

rehab room.

The doctor shook his head in resignation. Ms. Valentine had been on death’s door three years ago,

right after childbirth. She had worked hard these past years, pushing the limits to climb the career

ladder.

At seven o’clock, Whitney returned to her villa.

Torin was watering the plants. He was deaf and mute, but they communicated through writing.

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Whitney, carrying breakfast, dashed into the living room. Yael Tennyson signaled from the stairs, her

slender figure exuding gentleness, “Whitney, Sammy’s still snoozing.”

“That little sleepyhead.: Whitney chuckled, though her eyes betrayed her concern.

Sammy had suffered an asthma attack the night before, only settling down at dawn.

Whitney entered his tiny bedroom, where her son curled up in bed, his princely features and delicate

frame at odds with his ruddy cheeks–a testament to her care.

A flicker of coldness crossed her eyes, not wanting to recall how she had managed to nurse him to this

state of health in the last three years.

That fateful night, she had leaped into the sea, overwhelmed by bitterness, only to be saved by an

unexpected rescuer.

Later, when Bryce was released, he found Whitney, who had fled abroad. Then, he secretly helped her

find her cousin Yael, both barely clinging to life, hiding out for three years.

To treat both Sammy’s cold–induced asthma and her leg injuries, Whitney revisited traditional

medicine,

Fortuitously, Torin, a servant from her grandfather’s days and whom she had once sent Simon to find,

had been overseas for a decade.

In his possession were medical books left by Whitney’s mother, and by studying those books, Whitney

became known as a miracle acupuncturist, gaining a modest reputation over the past three years.

These memories seemed lengthy yet fleeting. Agony and struggle had become her constant

bedfellows, keeping her awake night after night. Every time she closed her eyes, the memories of that

fateful night played out in excruciating detail. She needed time to gather her strength, to

heal.

But that despicable pair were out there, living it up, not granting her a moment’s respite!

Today, they were preparing to celebrate their grand wedding. Yet in prison, her uncle, Keegan, was

suddenly convicted of murder, his life sentence turned into a death sentence. Was this Elaine’s twisted

version of a ‘wedding gift‘?

Skye Gem Ltd., once a beacon of stability, was now adrift and on the auction block after three

years.

Tiana, humiliated and exposed by Elaine’s malicious leaking of photos, had brought the wrath of that

despicable man down on the Melford family, leading to their social ostracism. After her disgrace, Tiana

had a pregnancy no one had anticipated.

In these three years, she had avoided all contact with others, but Bryce had relayed that Tiana was

forced to give birth, the child now two years old.

With each thought, Whitney’s hatred became impossible to conceal. The architect of all this chaos was

none other than Elaine. How could she possibly let this woman go unpunished?

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With each grievance, she vowed to settle with that despicable pair. It was time to return home.

“Whitney, you have to find a way to save Dad from the death penalty,” Yael pleaded, his voice tinged

with unease.

“Of course, this trip back isn’t just about rescuing family and friends; it’s also about revenge!”

Whitney squeezed her hand, her alluring eyes brimming with a chilling intent.